Metallica's lyrics are the subject of a new book called The Meaning Of Metallica: Ride The Lyrics due out on April 19. The book is written by William Irwin, Professor of Philosophy at King's College in Wilkes-Barre, and seeks to explore "topics such as truth, identify, questions of life and death, the mind-body problem, justice and more" through the lens of Metallica's lyrics.
The Meaning Of Metallica: Ride The Lyrics is available for pre-order here. The following is a description of the book courtesy of publisher ECW Press.
"Their mighty guitar riffs and pounding drums are legendary, but Metallica's words match the intensity of their tunes. Lead singer James Hetfield writes rock poetry dealing with death, war, addiction, alienation, corruption, freedom, religion, and other weighty topics. Painting a rainbow of emotions with a deft palette, subtle but not obscure, Hetfield's lyrics deserve careful attention. A master of narrative, Metallica makes listeners care about a vast array of characters, from a vengeful God, to a suicidal teenager, to a man in mid-life crisis.
"The Meaning Of Metallica is like a riveting conversation with a close friend. A thematic tour de force that traces Hetfield's lyrical development across the decades, this companion examines everything from deep cuts like 'Confusion' to megahits like 'Enter Sandman.' Sure to spark debate and discussion, The Meaning of Metallica provides a close reading of lyrics dense with details and rich with allusions."
